Archive for category Licorice'

Licorice: Medical Uses Licorice has been used for peptic ulcer disease, canker sores, and cough. It is used topically for eczema, psoriasis, and herpes. Historical Uses Historically, licorice has been used as a flavoring agent in candy, tobacco, and soft drinks. Licorice syrup was used as a cough remedy. For years, licorice root has been valued in Germany and China and in Ayurvedic medicine. Growth Licorice comes from a small shrub that grows in temperate climates. Part Used • Root Major Chemical Compounds • Glycyrrhizin • Flavonoids • Phenolic compounds • Glicophenone • Glicoisoflavone • Phytosterols • Coumarins () Licorice: Clinical Uses Licorice has been used for peptic ulcer disease, canker sores, cough, and chronic fatigue syndrome (under supervision). It is used topically for eczema, psoriasis, and herpes. It is also used for its antibacterial activity and its antiparasitic, antitumor, and estrogenic activity. It may be used for anti-HIV effects. Mechanism of Action Licorice does not inhibit the release of gastric acid, but rather stimulates normal defense mechanisms by improving blood supply, increasing the amount and quality of substances that line the intestinal Read more […]

Although licorice is sometimes categorized as an adaptogen, it does not strictly meet the criteria of one: Its actions are specific rather than nonspecific, and its use in certain patients in high doses or over a prolonged period is not always benign, and in fact can pose serious consequences. However, because of licorice’s action on the adrenal glands, as well as on several conditions associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysfunction, it raises questions about the potential role of licorice in the prevention and treatment of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysfunction, and merits mention in this section. Peptic ulcer was one of the first conditions ever to be associated with an overactive stress response. Interestingly, licorice extract has demonstrated efficacy against Helicobacter pylori, including against clarithromy-cin-resistant strains. Licorice studies have demonstrated its positive effects in treating viral infection, particularly those caused by herpes simplex virus, an active infection associated with increased stress. A recent study demonstrated that licorice root extract might even interfere with the latency of the herpes virus. Licorice components also have demonstrated the ability to modulate Read more […]

Contraindications and Precautions Licorice should be used with caution in people with hypertension (or a genetic predisposition to hypertension) or fluid retention, and is contraindicated in hypotonia, severe renal insufficiency, hypokalaemia, liver cirrhosis and cholestatic liver disease. The effects are likely to be dose-dependent and more likely in people with essential hypertension with a particular tendency to 11HSD inhibition by licorice. It is also contraindicated in people with a deficiency in 11HSD. Long-term use (>2 weeks) at therapeutic doses should be monitored closely due to the potential side-effects. Additionally, a high-potassium low-sodium diet should be consumed during treatment. As licorice may questionably reduce testosterone levels in men, it should be used with caution in men with a history of impotence, infertility or decreased libido. Pregnancy Use Licorice is contraindicated in pregnancy. A Finnish trial found that high consumption of licorice during pregnancy increased the likelihood of early delivery but did not significantly affect birth weight or maternal blood pressure. Practice Points / Patient Counselling • Licorice has been used as a food, flavouring agent and medicine Read more […]

Controlled trials exist that have identified drug interactions. However, in most cases, the interactions are based on evidence of pharmacological activity, case reports or theoretical reasoning. The deglycyrrhizinated licorice form is considered safer and less likely to result in drug interactions. ANTICOAGULANTS Isoliquiritigenin inhibits platelet aggregation and glycyrrhizin inhibits prothrombin according to in vitro and in vivo tests. Whether the effect is clinically significant for licorice remains to be determined — use high doses with caution. ANTIHYPERTENSIVES High-dose glycyrrhizin taken long term can lead to increased blood pressure, thereby reducing drug efficacy. Caution — monitor blood pressure when high-dose licorice preparations are taken for longer than 2 weeks. CHEMOTHERAPY (PACLITAXEL AND VINBLASTINE) A constituent of licorice has demonstrated significant potentiation of paclitaxel and vinblastine chemotherapy in vitro. Observe — beneficial interaction is theoretically possible under medical supervision. CORTICOSTEROIDS Concurrent use of licorice preparations potentiates the effects of topical and oral corticosteroids (e.g. prednisolone). Some practitioners employ licorice to minimise Read more […]

Many of the adverse effects attributed to licorice are due to glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) at doses above 100-400 mg/day. For this reason, the deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) may be safer and more appropriate in cases where glycyrrhizin (GL) or GA are not required for efficacy. Side-effects may be more pronounced in people with essential hypertension who appear to be more sensitive to the inhibition of 11HSD by licorice than normotensive subjects. • Hypercortisolism and pseudohyperaldosteronism — associated with sodium retention, potassium loss and suppression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and presenting as hypertension, fluid retention, breathlessness, hypernatraemia and hypokalaemia. • Hypokalaemia — may present as hypotonia and flaccid paralysis, peripheral oedema, polyuria, proximal myopathy, lethargy, paraesthesiae, muscle cramps, headaches, tetany, breathlessness and hypertension. In practice, licorice is often mixed with the potassium-rich herb dandelion leaf, which also has mild diuretic effects. • Hypokalaemic paralysis — although rare, some cases have been reported as a result of chronic licorice use. • Rhabdomyolysis — a number of cases are reported in the scientific Read more […]

PEPTIC ULCER AND DYSPEPSIA The anti-inflammatory, mucoprotective and anti-ulcer activities of licorice make it an attractive treatment for peptic ulcer. While these effects have been attributed to the glycyrrhizin (GL) and glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) constituents, the deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), which contains <3% GL, has also been investigated and appears to produce the most promising results when used long term. DGL also promotes differentiation of undifferentiated cells to mucous cells and stimulates mucus production and secretion. In an uncontrolled trial of 32 patients with chronic duodenal ulcer, 3800 mg/day of DGL (in five divided doses) produced signs of healing in all cases and total restoration of mucosa in a majority of subjects. Although treatment continued for 24 weeks, considerable improvement was seen in 56% of patients by week 12 and in 78% by week 16. A shorter 4-week trial of 96 patients with gastric ulcer failed to produce the same positive results. DGL plus antacid (Caved-S; 2 tablets chewed three times daily between meals) was as effective as cimetidine (200 mg three times daily plus 400 mg at night) after 6 weeks, according to one randomised single-blind trial of 100 volunteers with Read more […]

SEX HORMONES Testosterone Whether licorice consumption affects testosterone levels is still unknown, as conflicting results have been obtained from clinical studies. Armanini et al have conducted a series of trials investigating the effects of licorice on testosterone levels in males with mixed results. One study showed that licorice (7 g/day equivalent to 0.5 g GA) was able to reversibly reduce testosterone levels within 7 days, by inhibiting 17,20-lyase (involved in the conversion of 17-hydroxyprogesterone to androstenedione) and 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (involved in the conversion of androstenedione to testosterone). Another study twice attempted to replicate these results, but was unable to detect an effect on testosterone levels in either study; the authors suggest that inappropriate use of statistical tests in the first study may explain the varying results. More clinically promising are the results from a small trial of nine healthy women (22-26 years) in the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. The women received 3.5 g licorice (containing 7.6% w/w of GL) daily for two cycles. Total serum testosterone decreased from 27.8 (±8.2) to 19.0 (±9.4) ng/dL in the first month and to 17(±6.4) Read more […]

MINERALOCORTICOID EFFECT The glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) constituent in licorice (and its metabolite 3-monoglucuronyl-glycyrrhetinic acid) inhibits the enzyme 11HSD, which catalyses the conversion of cortisol into its inactive metabolite, cortisone. This results in delayed excretion and prolonged activity of cortisol. Additionally, glycyrrhizin (GL) and GA bind to mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors and may displace cortisol from its carrier molecule, transcortin. Pseudohyperaldosteronism As cortisol levels rise, they stimulate mineralocorticoid receptors in the distal renal tubule. This creates pseudohyperaldosteronism, which has the same clinical features as primary aldosteronism, including sodium retention, fluid retention and oedema, hypertension, hypokalaemia and metabolic alkalosis. A case report suggests that the symptoms occur despite low plasma levels of aldosterone. Decreased plasma renin activity and increased cortisol levels result in vasoconstriction of vascular smooth muscle, which may further exacerbate the hypertensive effects. This may be of particular significance in patients with prolonged intestinal transit time where GA levels can accumulate. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY The anti-inflammatory Read more […]

Common Name Licorice Other Names Alcacuz, Chinese licorice, licorice root, liquorice, sweet root, gan cao, kanzo, radix glycyrrhizae, yashimadhu Botanical Name / Family Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (family Leguminosae) It should be differentiated from: G. uralensis (synonyms: Chinese licorice, gan cao, licorice root, sweet root), G. inflata (synonyms: gan cao, zhigancao), G. pralidiflora, G. glandifera, G. pallida, G. tyica and G. violocea, although some studies do not always clearly state which form is used. Plant Parts Used Root and stolon Historical Note Licorice root has been used in Europe since prehistoric times, and its medicinal use is well documented. References to licorice date backto approximately 2500 BC on Assyrian clay tablets and Egyptian papyri. It has been used as both a food and a medicine since ancient times. The genus name, meaning ‘sweet root’, is attributed to the first century Greek physician Dioscorides. The herb is also popular in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Chemical Components Licorice contains several triterpenoid saponins, the most studied of which is glycyrrhizin (GL, also known as glycyrrhizic acid or glycyrrhizinic acid). Other important constituents include: Read more […]